Underwriters Laboratories (UL) reports it was recently selected as the only foreign testing center for large-scale wind turbine generation systems (over 750 kW) by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS), a division within the Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MTIE).

UL says this designation will allow global and local companies to earn not only local certification for Korea, but also international certification, as it follows the IEC 61400-22 or GL Guideline.

UL purchased Germany-based wind energy measurement and testing services companies DEWI GmbH and DEWI-OCC in 2012. DEWI GmbH has been assigned by the KATS as the testing body for power performance, power quality, acoustic noise/vibration and mechanical loads of large-scale wind turbine generation systems. Meanwhile, DEWI-OCC was appointed as the overall design assessment body for the same type of turbine systems.

The new certification process for large-scale wind turbine generation systems is anticipated to begin on Sept. 1.